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Tim Cook Does Not Need to Be Like Steve Jobs

There's scant question that John Browett's retail snafu earlier this year would have happened under Jobs. But if it somehow did, Browett would have been fired much sooner.

Cook showed a little self-interest. Even a hint of ruthlessness. Some fire. Some spark.

As somebody skeptical of his ability as a visionary, that gives me hope. That said, it doesn't make me think for a second that Cook's a visionary in Jobs's league. It doesn't portend a smashing product line to follow up iPod, iPhone and iPad.

One thing has nothing to do with the other. While some loose relationship that we'll only be able to connect in hindsight might exist, there's nothing causal here. Cook blowing two people out in a way sort of similar to how Jobs might have done it doesn't necessarily lead to a sudden ability to masterfully conceive, develop and market iTV.

But, by getting Forstall out of the picture and handing Jonathan Ive more rope, Cook likely reduces the chances that he'll hang himself.

At the time of publication, the author held no positions in any of the stocks mentioned in this article.